Circuit and method for exciting a micro-machined transducer to have low second order harmonic transmit energy
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBernard J Savord, William J Ossmann
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Abstract
A circuit and method for predistorting an input pulse to a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) compensates for non-linearities in the transducer, thus allowing the transducer to provide a compensated output pressure wave having a low second order harmonic transmit energy. In another aspect of the invention, the output power of a MUT may be controlled.
Claims21
A circuit for exciting a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT), said MUT having non-linear input-output characteristics, comprising:
- waveform circuitry configured to develop a predistorted waveform, said predistorted waveform related at least in part to said non-linear characteristics;
- and
- driver circuitry coupled to said waveform circuitry, said driver circuitry configured to apply said predistorted waveform to said MUT.
A method for exciting a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT), said MUT having non-linear input-output characteristics, the method comprising the step of:
- applying to the MUT a predistorted waveform, said predistorted waveform related at least in part to said non-linear characteristics such that said predistorted waveform compensates for said non-linear response of said MUT, said predistorted waveform resulting in an output pressure wave of said MUT, the output pressure wave having less second order harmonic energy than were said MUT excited by a non-predistorted waveform.
A method for exciting a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) comprising the step of:
- generating an input pulse;
- distorting the input pulse in a non-linear fashion;
- and
- applying the distorted input pulse to the MUT.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.